Ya Mon, tings Irie at deh RIU mon.
This isn’t RIU’s first foray into Jamaica, the Check PricesRIU Palace Aquarelle is the company’s seventh hotel on the island, and they really know how to put together the best all-inclusive experience!
The Why
- Located on one of Jamaica’s best beaches.
- Four pools including a dedicated children’s pool with slides, and a Splash World Water Park to keep the entire family entertained.
- Just a short distance from the historic town of Falmouth, founded in 1769 and home to colonial architecture, colourful markets, plenty of charming cafes and shops, and quaint churches to discover.
- RIULand kids club for parents who want to enjoy some grown-up time by themselves.
- Breath-taking views of the Caribbean Sea from virtually every single room in the hotel.
- The on-site Renova Spa is your go to for Spa treatments and beauty services.
Getting there
The RIU Palace Aquarelle is located between Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, just 35-minutes from the island’s largest airport, Sangster International Airport in MoBay (MBJ). There’s also a new airport in Ocho Rios (Ian Fleming Airport), but it’s much smaller and not yet ready to handle much more than small private charter jets and island hoppers. From MBJ it’s an easy and scenic drive along the coast to reach the resort. As always, you can book a transfer in advance or hop in a taxi outside the airport – we always recommend the former!
Accommodation
Aside from the family suites and triple rooms we’ve mentioned, the majority of accommodations at the RIU Palace Aquarelle are junior suites, with floor to ceiling windows to make the most of those ocean views. All rooms have a balcony or terrace, a plethora of upscale amenities, all the usual inclusions (minibar, flat-screen TV, complimentary WiFi, etc.), and guests can choose from a single king size bed or two extra long twin beds. From the standard suites, a range of upgrades are available including swim up and ocean front upgrades.
Dining and Drinks
Offering 24-hour all-inclusive service, it doesn’t matter if you fancy a steak or a pizza at 3am, you will get it at the Check PricesRIU Palace Aquarelle. As well as room-service and a selection of snack bars and pool bars, the hotel offers six main restaurants for guests to choose from. The main buffet, White Bay, offers a range of international and regional Caribbean cuisine to suit all palates. Gourmet fusion cuisine is served at Krystal, for Italian there’s delectable pizza, pasta and risotto at Napoli, and Kyoto is your go-to for Asian dishes. For the best steak in Falmouth, head to the Steakhouse and for a plentiful supply of jerk chicken, it’s Pepe’s Food.
For the resort’s best cocktails, guests will want to visit Daquiri, whilst the hotel coffee spot is Capuchino, which also serves fab pastries. The lounge bar is Ska, and the the pool bar, Marley, is named after a certain Jamaican musician. Kingston is a swim-up bar for those who don’t want to leave the water to enjoy a beverage. Finally, the American Country sports bar shows all the latest international sports events live and accompanied by cool beer and an “All-American Favorites” pub-style menu.
Sports and Activities
As well as your usual all-inclusive roster of live entertainment, guests at the RIU Palace Aquarelle can enjoy a range of outdoor and indoor activities. The hotel has a beach volleyball court and group fitness activities are hosted in the dedicated RIUFit area on a daily basis. Paddle boards, kayaks, snorkels scuba gear and even catamarans can be hired (proof of qualification for catamaran rental is needed) and there is an 18-hole golf course just a 30-minute drive away – a round can be booked with the Concierge or the front desk (extra cost).
Conclusion
As a beachfront resort on an island threatened by climate change, it’s great to see RIU taking a huge step towards making this new resort energy efficient and running on clean power. And with a wide selection of amenities, swim up suites and a range of dining and drinking options, the new RIU Palace Aquarelle promises to cement itself as a stalwart on the Jamaican all-inclusive scene for years to come.
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